NextGen-Version On Tap For Later This Year

Aero-News learned this week Pilatus Aircraft recently celebrated the delivery of its 700th PC-12 turboprop.
In a celebration marked at V. Kelner Pilatus Center in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, PC-12 owner David Fountain accepted the keys to his new aircraft from Robert Arnone, President and CEO, and Steve Davey, Vice President of V. Kelner Pilatus Center.
Fountain knows the PC-12 very well, having been the proud owner of one since April 2001. A private investor by trade, he plans to fly his new PC-12 himself out of Halifax, Nova Scotia, as he has done with his previous aircraft for the past six years.
“The Pilatus PC-12 is an exceptional personal aircraft," Fountain said. "With its speed, range, comfort and reliability it has no rivals in its class. I have had a great deal of pleasure flying my first one throughout North America and I look forward to many exciting trips in my second PC-12.”
“The greatest advocates of the PC-12 are often those who know the aircraft best -- its current owners and pilots," said Thomas Hunziker, President and CEO of Pilatus Business Aircraft, Ltd. "Each year, many existing PC-12 owners become repeat customers because of the PC-12’s proven performance. And also, no doubt, because it is a lot of fun to fly!”
It is Fountain's second PC-12... and the company tells ANN he has already committed to purchasing a third.
The PC-12 has been the top selling turbine-powered business aircraft for the past four years in a row. Pilatus celebrated the delivery of the 600th PC-12 just over one year ago. As ANN has reported, Pilatus plans to introduce the Next Generation PC-12 later this year.

aero-news.net 19th Apr 07

ExecuJet grows fleet with PC-12

ExecuJet South Africa has added another Swiss-built Pilatus PC-12 to its growing fleet of either owned or managed aircraft. This brings ExecuJet's fleet of PC-12s to six and its total number of aircraft to 18, writes Hilka Birns.
Denis Crossley, ExecuJet's flight operations director, says the charter company's fleet ranging from turboprops to intercontinental jets meets the demands of most flight missions. "With yet another PC-12, we can offer a wider range of travel options. This is the aircraft of choice for Africa's many unprepared airfields," he says.
ExecuJet also has two Beechcraft King Air 200s, a Bombardier Global Express, Challenger 604, Challenger 601, four Learjet 45s, a 31A, a Cessna Citation V and a Caravan.

Flight Global 17th Apr 07

PC-12 Top Seller for fourth consecutive Year

The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) announced that shipments of every type of general aviation airplane increased in 2006. These strong numbers have led to another record high in industry billings, and the Pilatus PC-12 remains the top selling single model of turbine-powered business aircraft for the fourth consecutive year.

The PC-12 is in its 14th year of production and it is now being produced at the highest rate to date. 90 PC-12s were delivered worldwide in 2006.

2006 Top Selling Turbine Business Aircraft
Model
2006 Sales

1. Pilatus PC-12
- 90
2. Citation XLS
- 73
3. Citation CJ3
- 72
4. Grand Caravan
- 59
5. Sovereign
- 57
Source: GAMA

Customers cite the PC-12’s combination of speed, large pressurized cabin, short field performance, and oversized cargo door along with the favorable economics of a single-engine turboprop as the reasons behind its popularity.

“People recognize that the PC-12’s size and performance, its efficiency, quality and high value retention make it the best value on the market today”, said Thomas Bosshard, CEO of Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. “Looking forward, we are confident that the Next Generation PC-12, which is slated for certification at the end of 2007, will further strengthen those traditions.”

The Next Generation PC-12 features a number of improvements, including a fully integrated Honeywell Primus Apex avionics system, a new cockpit designed by BMW Group DesignworksUSA, and a more powerful Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A engine.

04th Apr 07

Stops In Iqaluit To Chill Out A Bit

While making its first transatlantic journey from Switzerland, the prototype Next Generation PC-12 stopped at Iqaluit, Canada for a series of cold weather trials, before arriving at Pilatus' North American headquarters in Broomfield, CO.

"The entire transatlantic flight was great. All systems operated perfectly and the aircraft completed its cold weather testing a day early. During the cold weather trials in Canada, the new systems performed exceptionally well and without any problems. The new avionics and the displays in particular exceeded all our expectations while experiencing extreme cold temperatures down to temperatures of -10 oF and less", said Ulli Gehling, Director Program Management.
Iqaluit, the regional capital of the Canadian Inuit province of Nunavut, is a popular cold-weather test location for many aircraft manufacturers, due to its extremely low temperatures, an 8,600 foot runway and lack of airspace restrictions. The airport was operated by the US Air Force until 1963, and today is the regional airport.
Pilatus officials tell ANN the cold weather trials demonstrated the new systems behavior under extreme cold temperatures. The tests evaluated the performance of the electrical system, battery power for engine start up, avionics system start up, and displays, and verified their operation throughout the entire environmental envelope.
Slated for certification at the end of 2007, the Next Generation PC-12 features a number of improvements -- including a fully integrated Honeywell Primus Apex avionics system, a new cockpit designed by BMW Group DesignworksUSA, and a more powerful Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A engine. Pilatus reports the certification program remains on track.

aero-news-net Sat, 10 Mar '07

Pilatus Business Aircraft Earns ODAR Approval From FAA

Approval to Conduct In-House Airworthiness Inspections & Approvals
Aero-News learned this week Pilatus Business Aircraft, Ltd., the US subsidiary of Pilatus Aircraft Ltd in Switzerland, earned FAA recognition as an Organizational Designated Airworthiness Representative (ODAR) to support its PC-12 program.

"The FAA's designation of Pilatus Business Aircraft Ltd. as an ODAR is a strong testament to our excellent quality and the high expertise of our team," said Patrick Wiesner, Vice President Production.
The ODAR designation authorizes Pilatus Business Aircraft, Ltd. to determine the conformity of the inspection, certification and issuance of the recurrent Standard Airworthiness Certification for US registered and non-US manufactured aircraft; to include airworthiness of the Pilatus aircraft, engines and their parts on behalf of the FAA.
"This achievement increases the flexibility and efficiency of our organization allowing Pilatus to continue to meet goals and customer expectations of quality," says Thomas Hunziker, President and CEO of Pilatus Business Aircraft, Ltd.
Pilatus performs avionics modifications and completions of the PC-12 at the Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport in Broomfield, CO. Representatives with the company state the ODAR designation will allow Pilatus Business Aircraft, Ltd. to continue to maintain the highest level of quality standards for which the Swiss-based company is well-known.

Established in 1939, Pilatus Aircraft Ltd is the world's leading manufacturer of single-engine turboprop aircraft. Pilatus Aircraft Ltd is a privately held company employing over 1,300 people. Pilatus provides aircraft and aviation services worldwide for the general aviation, commercial, training, utility, and special mission markets.

aero-news.net Fri, 09 Mar '07